Rosewood is hard, tough, strong, and dense. True rosewoods come from trees of the genus Dalbergia,
but other woods are often called rosewood. Rosewood takes a high polish
and is used for luxury furniture-making, flooring, musical instruments,
and turnery.
Genuine rosewoods belong to the genus Dalbergia. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated in the Western world is the wood of Dalbergia nigra. It is best known as "Brazilian rosewood", but also as "Bahia rosewood". This wood has a strong, sweet smell, which persists for many years, explaining the name rosewood.
As rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, they are suitable for guitars (the fretboards on electric and acoustic guitars often being made of rosewood), marimbas and recorders. There is a site that specializes in Panama rosewood sets for guitars (link below).
In general, world stocks are poor through overexploitation.
Rosewood is now protected worldwide. At a summit of the international
wildlife trade in South Africa, the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
moved to protect the world's most trafficked wild product by placing
all 300 species of the rosewood tree under trade restrictions.
At CITES meetings in 2013, 2016, and 2019, additional rosewood species
were listed for protection, triggering market booms in China.
Net links:
Wood Data Base ~ Distinguishing Brazilian, East Indian & Other Rosewoods
Woodworker's Source ~ Rosewood From Around the Globe
Styrous® ~ Friday, November 8, 2024
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